Alabama may be asking such a question for one of two reasons - and you'll know which one it is by the tone of her voice; was it one of lively curiosity or did it contain that unmistakable accusing edge with the emphasis on did? Either way, you need to be honest and positive in your response, says Gaynor Sbuttoni, an educational psychologist. “Children may not like their name. You need to acknowledge that and say, OK. That's your taste'. You also need to say something like, I love your name and I needed a name to go with the baby I loved which is why I chose it'.”

Dr Nadja Reissland, senior lecturer in developmental psychology at the University of Durham, adds: “Tell them why you chose their name; a book, a film or a family name. If it is, for example, Louis, tell him about King Louis; the palaces and castles, the history. In this way, they can start to own the name rather than feeling that it has been given to them for no reason.”

Sbuttoni says that if Alabama is being picked on at school because of her name, you need to work out some coping strategies. “She could say something like, I don't care if you don't like my name. I like it, so it's your problem'. You could even rehearse how she'll act when she next gets teased.”

She says that it's important to encourage children to have confidence in their name. Reissland agrees and says that part of that comes from teaching your child how to shrug off the jokes, laugh along with it - or even pre-empt it.

There is also no point blaming yourself for a name that years later draws ridicule. Louis, for example, is a faultless name until your five-year-old accuses you of making his life a misery because friends call him “Pooey Louis”.

When you're considering names for your child, it is impossible to predict just how ingenious his or her friends will be, making mockery of your best intentions. As Sbuttoni says: “It's better to pick a name you like and focus on giving your child the skills to deal with it.”

Humour is probably the best way to win friends around to an unusual name. As in, “My mum loved Alabama when she stayed there with my dad. Thank goodness it wasn't Basingstoke or Bangor.”

EMMA COOK

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